Customer Reviews:
 Honest opinion from a primary Canon shooter January 19, 2008
52 out of 52 found this review helpful
I own a Canon EOS 5D, 40D and 30D so this is my first Nikon DSLR. Being primarily a Canon photographer I always wondered what shooting with Nikon would be like.
Let me just say, this Nikon is an absolute gem and pleasure to shoot with. The technology packed into this product is definitely a jump in quality making it worthy of being called a "next generation" DSLR.
I could tell you about all the fancy specs, its abilities, and why people think it's better than Canon, but the other reviews pretty much say it all. Otherwise, this camera does deliver what it promises.
I feel that both Canon and Nikon DSLR's are fantastic for people wanting to learn and/or continue their photography. Sure, right now I'd say Nikon absolutely has the lead in technology, but historically these two companies have been going back and forth all along so eventually Canon will take the crown back.
My advice for anyone seriously considering buying this camera or any DSLR (since it'll put a nice size whole in your pocket) is go to the store and test out the camera that is right for you. See what best fits in your hand, build quality, weight, etc... because I guarantee 8/10 people buying these cameras won't notice any difference in image quality. Both Canon's and Nikon's are fully capable cameras so it's really the photographer who makes ANY difference.
(Last bit of advice would be to buy your gear online cause stores tend to mark up their stuff to a nice inflated price. Also, when buying these DSLR's, the glass you have (i.e LENSES) make more difference than the camera you're using (especially after >8.0MP).
Good luck and just have fun with your camera! You capture the most memorable shots in the moment. ^_^
Excellent Camera January 19, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I upgraded from a D80 which I had for more than 1 year. The D80 is a very good camera, and the D300 is a significant upgrade. What I like most about the camera is that the D300 has the ability to shoot with vivid colors while at the same time keeping a natural appearance. This leads to images looking better than what they looked like in real life.
The exposure of the camera is excellent as well. Rarely does it under or overexpose an image. Autofocus is both quick and accurate. It really makes taking high-quality pictures easy. I spend almost no time having to fix the image in Photoshop.
While the high ISO performance is significantly improved from the aforementioned D80, noise still can show up in poor lighting around ISO 1600 and above. I sometimes shoot ice hockey and can find it difficult to get satisfactory shots if the rink's lighting is poor even while using a 2..8 70-200mm VR zoom wide open at 2.8. That is , however, the only venue where I have had any difficulties. Otherwise it is 10's across the board.
If I were a betting man, I would imagine that Nikon will come out with a direct upgrade to the D80 (D90?) in the near future. If I didn't want the 6 fps of the D300, I might be inclined to wait.
In summary, I am very satisfied with the D300 and imagine that I will not be getting any new camera bodies any time soon. The only areas that I can see for significant improvement is high ISO performance and wide-angle photography. I am not into wide angles, and the ISO weakness appears only under the most extreme of conditions. The full-frame D3 would likely solve those weaknesses but is $5,000 and not worth the additional money from my perspective.
/amazing product January 19, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have been using my D70 which I got it when it was out first. I have been postponing to upgrade it to D200. with more and more involved I am into digital photograph, it is about time to upgrade. How happy I am with this decision!
I enjoyed everything about this camera. Camera itself handles color, balance very well. You don't need to do much about it. With my 18-200 VR lens, it is extremely well with low-lighting situation.
handling is very convenient. I may be very familiar with D70's handling, but this one gives me more confortable reach to common used parameter adjustment. Go get it if you can.
 Nikon D300 January 18, 2008
16 out of 51 found this review helpful
The picture quality is excellent. I have a minor problem with so many new electronics gadgets becoming "over-intelligent". In this particular case, the camera will not allow you to take a picture if the exposure or focus is not deemed to be acceptable by the electronics. This causes occasional loss of spontaneity in some photographs as the moment passes while the camera denies the opportunity to shoot a less-than-perfectly exposed shot. Otherwise, it is an incredibly powerful camera with sharp optics and excellent color adjustment options.
Nikon D300 - King of the Hill January 18, 2008
5 out of 9 found this review helpful
I have owned Nikon cameras for 40 years and this is the King of the digitals for the money. My D100 was recently stolen from my auto and I needed a replacement. The D300 fit my budget and my needs. I also suggest you get the new VR lenses. Also, be aware that there is a discounted China plastic version of the D300 for about $1000. I would not recommend you go that way.
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